Knowing that the area would be unsafe for Kuroko, Leonardo decided to visit the Kame part of town on his own. It was strange for him to see so many turtles walking around. It felt like a dream. He had never felt so relaxed in his life. That was, until someone came up behind him. “You’re not from around here.”
Leo turned to face a rather large kame. “No I am not.”
“Where are you from?” the Kame asked.
“Far away,” Leo answered.
The Kame narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “My grandmother asked me to bring you to her.”
Leo lifted and eye ridge. “My I ask why?”
“There is something about you that she finds interesting,” the Kame replied. “Are you going to come with me willingly or not?”
Leo knew that, despite the Kame’s larger size, there was no way he could have taken Leo unwillingly. However, he did not want to cause any problems so he smiled and said, “Lead the way.”
He followed the large Kame back through town and into a small house. There was an old female Kame sitting in a chair, waiting for them. She looked up as they entered and Leo could see that her eyes were capped in white.
“Thank you, Ookin.” She lifted her withered hand. “Come closer.”
Leonardo knew that the request was for him and not his guide. Using his ki, Leo searched the area as he walked towards the old woman. There were others in the house, two young girls, a clutch of six eggs two of which were infertile, two women, and four more males. They watched Leonardo out of curiosity but there was no threat from them.
The old woman smiled up at Leonardo. “You are strong in the mystic arts.” Her hand came out and hovered next to him. “And, you hold a powerful talisman.”
Leonardo pulled his pendant from under his kimono. “Could you be sensing this? It is my way to return home.”
The old Kame shook her head. “No.” She extended her fingers and kept her hand close to his side. “It’s here.”
Confused, Leo reached into his pocket and his fingers touched the jade turtle. He had all but forgotten about it. Pulling it out, he held it out in his open palm. Some of the other Kame in the house gasped.
“Yes, that,” the old Kame said. “How did you come across such an artifact?”
“I helped a Kappa family,” Leo answered. “One of them tossed this to me before disappearing under the water.”
“Those Kappa must have owed you a tremendous debt. This is a great gift indeed,” she said.
“How so,” Leo asked, turning the turtle over in his hand.
“Have you not noticed how much stronger you’ve become since it was given to you?” she replied.
Leo nodded. “I have.”
“It has a way of helping you focus your ki.” she said. “It only works if it is given freely and it’s useless if it is stolen.”
Leo looked down at the small jade turtle and wondered if it would have the same effect on him back on his own world. He’d have to figure out a way to keep it on him when he was wearing his gear. He’d hate to lose it in a battel, even if it would be useless to anyone who found it.
Leo looked up at the old woman. “Is that the reason you wanted to see me? To ask me where I got this?”
“I sensed your power when you walked past,” the woman answered. “I know that you spread your ki out when you entered my home. I’m sure you know how many people are in this house, their ages and genders. You could probably sense the whole town if you concentrated hard enough. I can see that the soul of a dragon rests inside of you. I wish to invite you to stay. You can marry one of my granddaughters.”
“There is something you need to know, grandmother. One of my friends saw him at the Lotus house last night,” Ookin said from the door. “He shared a room with Takara. He also had Kuroko’s son with him.”
Leo looked over his shoulder at him. “How are you so sure that was me?”
Ookin scoffed. “You’re the only Kame in town that is not from here.”
“Is the boy with Takara now?” the old one asked.
Leo nodded. “She desired the chance to get to know him. So they are visiting with one another. She knows life here would be hard for him so she has permitted me to take him with me when I return home.”
“I do not want that tainted child in my home,” the old one said. “My granddaughter was a fool for mating with Kuroko.”
“Takara is your granddaughter?” Leo did his best to keep his composure. How could she hate her own blood? “I thank you for the offer but I must decline. I never intended to stay here and will return to my home in just a few days.” He bowed deeply. “If there is nothing more, I will see myself out.”
“That creature will only bring you grief,” the old one called out after him.
Leo stopped and looked into her white eyes. “His siblings have the same blood running through them. There is a chance that when they are older and mate, their children will have the same black skin. I find it hard to believe that one who is so gifted would not be able to see that the black skin he has is not demonic.”
“You misunderstand,” the old woman replied. “I know that he does not possess demonic power but the color of his skin draws it to him. He will be unable to avoid it if he is trained.”
“This is nothing more than a foolish superstition,” Leo snapped. “I have fought demons. I know demons. I fought the older Kuroko and killed him. He was well trained but was no demon. The young Kuroko is no different than his siblings. I will take him with me, train him and prove that you are wrong.”
“It has happened before,” the old woman stated, remaining calm. “There is a wolf named Jei who was born all black, much like Kuroko. Once he was trained to use his ki he was able to extend it into his weapons, turning them as black as he was. He became delusional, believing he was chosen by the gods to smite evil only to see the sinner in everyone. He still roams the land, killing those who draw his attention even those foolish enough to help him. His ki is so strong he is nearly impossible to kill and when he strikes you it consumes your soul.”
She sat back, shaking her head. “I will not take part in training another like him and it is the reason I refused to train the elder Kuroko. He might have been trained to use a sword but he was not trained to use his ki. I will not have my bloodline associated with such evil. If my granddaughters do have children with black skin, they will not be trained, despite their potential.”
“I pray that they do not have any children with black skin,” Leo stated and then turned to go. “For your sake and for theirs. No child deserves the hate you would visit upon them.”
“And for your sake I hope you are right about young Kuroko,” she called out after him. “The world does not need another terror like Jei.”
Leonardo left without another word. He wasn’t going to stand there and argue with her. It would have been useless. It wasn’t possible to change her mind and he wasn’t going to give her the chance to change his. Kuroko wasn’t going to end up anything like Jei.
He returned to the Lotus house a short time later, entering through the front gate. Usagi was with Takara and Akemi while the children played nearby. Leonardo walked over to them and accepted Hana before sitting down next to Usagi. Since they were planning on leaving to stay in a more affordable inn, Akemi left to get the supplies Leo would need to feed Hana.
“I met your grandmother,” Leo said to Takara. “And your… brother? Ookin.”
“Cousin,” Takara corrected. “How exactly did you meet them?”
“Your grandmother sensed me as I passed by her house,” Leo replied. “She sent your cousin to fetch me. She offered me the hand of one of her granddaughters in marriage. I declined. She didn’t seem too happy.”
Takara scoffed. “That doesn’t surprise me. Did she offer you me? Is that how you know that she is my grandmother?”
Leo shook his head. “One of Ookin’s friends saw me here with you… and Kuroko.”
“She knows?!” Takara stood up and looked around the garden. “Maybe we should go back inside.”
“You don’t have to worry,” Leo said. “If any Kame comes close to the Lotus house, I will know it. Right now they are all on the other side of town.”
“You don’t understand,” Takara explained. “My grandmother is a master warrior. Don’t let her old age fool you. She has won the Battel Nexus, recently. She stepped down from fighting only a decade ago so she could focus on training my cousins for it. She can still hold her own in a fight. She beats them all the time.”
“You know of the Nexus?” Leo asked.
“I only know of it,” Takara replied. “You know of it?”
“It is how I met Usagi,” Leo answered.
Takara smiled. “It must have been the will of the gods for us to meet and for you to raise my son.”
“Destiny has seemed to play a big part in my life,” Leo agreed. “I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of each other.”
“I’ll have to make sure this is where I meet you anytime we arrange a visit,” Usagi added. “It will be good to occasionally get Takara and Kuroko together. I’m sure Jotaro will enjoy the visit as well.”
“I’m just finding more and more reasons to come visit you,” Leo quipped.
They said their goodbyes when Akemi returned with the supplies. She had been kind enough to offer help if Hana refused to eat the bread and butter mixture. Leonardo thanked her for her offer and then they left to find an inn.
That night they took their meal in their room. Leo tasted the bread Akemi had given him for Hana. It was a sweet bread, and soft. Following the directions he was given, he let the bread soak in water for a few minutes before adding the butter and shaking it vigorously. He hoped that the mixture would be easy enough for Hana’s little system to digest, if she ate it at all.
When he was satisfied with the consistency, Leo got some on his finger and fed it to Hana. She wasn’t happy with the new food but after a few minutes of trying Leo managed to get her to eat it. “Just a few more days,” he whispered to her. “Feeding you will be easier when I get you back home.”
By the time Hana finished her food, the children were asleep. Leonardo made sure that she had on a fresh diaper before swaddling her tightly and setting her next to the window for some fresh air. With a full belly, Hana quickly drifted off to sleep.
Leo moved over to the tatami and sat next to Usagi. “It has been an interesting twenty four hours.”
Usagi was lying on the mattress and looked up at Leo as he traced his finger along Leo’s bicep. “We never really got the chance to talk about last night. Did you enjoy yourself?”
“I did,” Leo answered, smiling down at his friend. “But I enjoy my time with you more.”
Usagi laughed. “So then you didn’t have sex.”
“I had sex with Takara.” Leo moved over Usagi and kissed him softly. “I like it better when you’re inside me. Leaving you is going to be the hardest part when I have to return home.”
“Love will only complicate things, Leonardo,” Usagi said softly.
“I know,” Leo replied, his voice a rough whisper. His heart was pounding in his chest as he nestled his beak against Usagi’s neck. “But I do.”
Usagi caressed Leo’s shell and kissed his cheek. “As do I.”
